Electrical agitator disconnector for suction cleaners



w. D. SELLERS ELECTRICAL AGITATOR nzscoumzc'roa FOR sucnom CLEANERS April 4 E50 3 She'ets-Sheei 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1944 Pulll/l/ y 1 w. D. SELLERS ELECTRICAL AGITATOR nxscommc'roa FOR suc'rxou CLEANERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1944 KARMA! an m MP Jifagwqy w. n. SELLERS 2 52,67 ELECTRICAL AGITATOR DISCONNECTOR Apriifi 1950 FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 29, 1944 Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL AGITATOR DISCONNECTOR FOR SUCTION CLEANERS William D. Sellers, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio 20 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and more particularly to a new and novel improvement in suction cleaner agitating means. More specifically the invention comprises a new and novel agitator construction which enables the operator to change the cleaner to a straight air machine simply by actuating a control switch.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner agitator. A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rotary agitator for a suction cleaner. A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improved agitator declutching means in a suction cleaner. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, simplified electrical disconnector for a rotary agitator in a suction cleaner. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, and in which the same reference character refers to the same parts throughout:

Figure l is a side view of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain parts of the away;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the suction cleaner illustrated in Figure 1 with a converter element casing being broken about to be seated for ofi-the-fioor cleaning and to render the cleaner agitator inoperative;

Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section through the cleaner agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention and shows the electrically actuated clutch in closed position;

Figure 4 is a partial view of the structure of Figure 3 but with the electrical clutch actuated;

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the clutch element of the agitator;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical circuit of the cleaner.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in particular a suction cleaner embodying the present invention is illustrated and is seen to comprise a main casing i which includes a nozzle 2 having surface-contacting lips 3 and t. The interior of the nozzle is connected by an air passageway 6 to the eye 17 of a fan chamber 8 within which is positioned a rotary fan 9 mounted upon the extension of a motor shaft II, the motor being unshown. The lower extremity of shaft ll is formed as a pulley surface and drives a power transmitting belt I2 which is connected to a r0- tary agitator, indicated generally at l3, positioned within the nozzle 2 in such relation to the surface-contacting lips 3 and 4 as to contact a suction-lifted surface covering. The exact construction of this agitator will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The unshown driving motor is positioned immediately above the fan chamber 8 and is enclosed by a casing or housing M. Casings l and I4 comprise the body of the machine and are movably supported by front and rear wheels, indicated generally by the reference characters 16 and ii, respectively. The rear wheel H is shown to be pivotally mounted upon a frame It which is spring urged downwardly by a coil spring iii, the pivotal movement being limited by the contact of frame-carried abutment 2! with the underside of the casing i.

As in machines of this type a handle 22 is provided which is pivotally mounted upon the cleaner body and provides means by which the operator can propel the machine over the surface covering to be cleaned. Also, as in the usual cleaner, a dust bag 23 is removably attached by means 24 to the cleaner in such position as to receive the dirt-laden air exhausted from the cleaner body by the action of the suction-creating fan 9.

The cleaner body is adapted to receive and seat a dusting tool converter, indicated generally at 26, which comprises the cleaner end of a dusting tool unit including a flexible hose and surface-contactible nozzle. The dusting tool unit may be of any usual and well known type and forms no part of the present invention. To receive the converter the cleaner body is formed with a seat 2i into which the converter 26 is adapted to extend to the eye 7 of the fan chamber in order both to seal, or substantially seal, the nozzle 2 from the suction-creating fan and to connect the dusting tools thereto. The abutment element 2! on the frame 88 normally prevents the insertion of the converter element until moved from its obstructing position, which movement is accomplished by depressing the rear of the machine. In the usual cleaner it is necessary to raise the agitator from contact with the surface covering during the period of dusting tool use. According to the present invention, as will be seen, this is not necessary for the agitator does not rotate in the off-the-fioor use of the 3 cleaner. Actually, in the disclosed embodiment the nozzle would be raised during such use for the presence of the converter element in its seat in contact with the abutment 2| would prevent the frame |8 reassuming its original position. This relationship need not exist, however.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5 in particula the agitator |3 is more fully illustrated. Agitator I3 is seen to comprise a stationary supporting shaft 3| which is suitably mounted at its ends in the end walls of the nozzle 2. Rotatably mounted upon stationary shaft 3| are a pair of cylindrical body sections 32, and also a pulley 33 positioned therebetween. Pulley 33 seats the power-transmitting belt l2 and is rotated at all times. The body sections 32 of the agitator, however, are only rotated when clutched to the pulley, as will be explained.

The outer end of each agitator body section 32 is carried by an end Wall 35 which is carried by a ball bearing 34 seated directly upon the stationary shaft 3|. A stationary end guard 38 extends radially beside each bearing 34 and the end wall 35 to overlie slightly the end of the agitator body in a protective relationship to prevent the accumulation of foreign material at the bearing. Each body section 32 carries a rigid beate element 31 which is shown as extending helically thereon and a slight distance radially therebeyond, in an approved manner, the exact curvature not being of the essence. Each section 32 is also formed with a brush seat 38 within which is positioned a removable brush element 39, the rigid back 4| of which is suitably secured in place, the means illustrated comprising a removable screw 42. The end of the brush back 4| opposite the securing screw 42 is seen to underlie the body section 32 adjacent thereto so as to prevent outward radial movement. The exact brush I'l'lL unting is not of the essence. The inner end of each body section 32, that is, the end adjacent the rotatable pulley 33, is adapted to be connected to or disconnected from the pulley 33 and, depending upon which relationship exists, the body sections either rotate or are stationary. This operation is accomplished by providing cooperating clutch parts upon the pulley 33 and the agitator body sections 32.

The pulley element 33, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 3| by a bearing 44, comprises not only a pulley surface but also includes conically extending side surfaces 46 which are in fact clutch seats. One of the seats 46 is formed integral with the pulley surface of the pulley 33 while the second seat is seen to be screw threaded into element 33 at 41 to accomplish the additional function of clamping the outer race of the bearing 44 in place. The inner race of bearing 44, incidentally, is held in place upon the stationary shaft 3| by means of a threaded nut 48 which forces it against a shoulder 49 on the shaft.

To support the inner ends of the body sections 32 upon the rotatable pulley 33, and specifically upon the clutch seats 46 thereof, there is provided in each section 32 a clutch element 5| of suitable material, preferably non-metallic. Each clutch element 5| is formed with a conical surface adapted to seat upon a seat 46, and is also provided with a fixed segmented enclosing ring of metal which is indicated at 52, the segments being separated by slots 53. Metallic ring 52 of the clutch element slidably seats in a spider assembly 54 which is itself fixedly carried by the interior surface of the body section 32 and, in

addition to other structural features, includes a plurality of spaced guide lugs 56 which extend into the slots 53 in the ring 52 to permit the clutch element 5| to slide longitudinally while preventing its rotation relative to the body section.

Spider assembly 54 also includes a plurality of inwardly extending radial arms 58 which terminate in a central collar 53 surrounding in spaced relationship the stationary shaft 3|. Collar 53 is Shaped to form a suitable seat for a heat-responsive Spencer disc element 5| formed with a plurality of spaced apertures 62 through which extend screws or similar elements with enlarged heads, indicated at 63. Elements 83 are fixedly connected to the clutch element 5| and the relationship is such that, with the Spencer disc element 6| in its normal or cold position, as illustrated in Figure 3, a force is exerted thereby against the adjacent surface of the clutch element 5| to force it into contacting and seating relationship with the similarly shaped seat surface 46 of the pulley 33. When so related the inner end of the agitator section 32 is supported upon the pulley and rotates therewith. Addi tionally, the relationship is such that with the disc element 8| in its heated condition, that illustrated in Figure 4, it has moved into contact with the enlarged ends of the screws 63 and has, by sliding the clutch element 5| at its outer ring 52 longitudinally in the enclosing spider assembly 54, disconnected the inner end of the body 32 from the rotating pulley. When so disconnected each agitator section 32 is stationary and is supported solely at its outer end. Should there be any looseness or tilting, however, the inner end of each section 32 would be supported by the contact of the spider collar 53 with the shaft 3| which it encircles.

To supply the necessary heat to actuate the heat-responsive element 6| there is provided a pair of heating coils 66. Each coil 68 is carried by an insulator 61 mounted in an integral bracket 68 of a support plate 69. Plate 63 is non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 3| being positioned by an integral tongue H which seats within slots 12 and H in the sleeve 13 and shaft 3|, respectively. Longitudinal displacement is prevented by an enclosing sleeve I3 upon the shaft 3|, the outer end of which abuts the inner race of the bearing 34. Electric current to each heating coil 66 is provided by a pair of conductors 16 which extend from the agitator end through a slot 11 in the shaft 3| being enclosed by the cylindrical sleeve 13.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular a diagrammatic showing is found of the electrica1 circult of the cleaner. The heating coils for the Spencer disc element 6| are again indicated by the referenc character 53 and are seen to be supplied with current by the leads 16, as described. One lead 13 extends to the terminals of the motor M which was previously described as being positioned within the motor housing I4. Current is carried to that side of the motor by a conductor 'I'l which extends to a separable plug connection 18 which, as in the usual cleaner design, is preferably located at the base of the handle so that the handle can be removed. Beyond the plug 13 a lead 19 continues, preferably up through the handle, and is connected to an incoming power source.

The second lead 16 to the heating coil 36 is supplied with current by one of two incoming current conductors, either 8| or 32. The former 7 passes directly to the aforementioned plug connection I8 and therebeyond is extended as a lead 83 to one part of double contact A of the manually operable control switch 84. Switch 84 includes a movable contact 86 which is manually operated with a snap action by a pivoted lever 81 in the usual manner, being adapted to contact not only stationary contact A but also additional contacts B and C. Current is supplied to the movable contact 86 by an incoming power lead 88.

The second lead which is connected to lastmentioned lead it, and so to the heatingcoil 66, comprises the lead 82 in series with which is positioned a microswitch 9!, which switch is also to be found illustrated in Figure 2 and which is so positioned as to be closed by the insertion of the converter element 26 into its seat 21 on the cleaner. Lead 82 connects to the opposite side of the motor M from the first-mentioned lead 16 and so it is seen that the heating coils $6 are in fact in parallel with the motor. From the motor M a lead 92 extends to the aforementioned plug l8 and from there a lead 93 continues to stationary contact B. A lead 94 also connects lead 93 to a part of the stationary contact A insulated from the lead 33.

From the lead connections at A and B it is seen that with the movable contact 86 touching contact A current flows directly to the motor M through the lead attached thereto and also to the heating coils 86 and this condition exists whether the microswitch 9! is open or closed. With the movable switch contact 86 in contact with stationary contact B, however, current flows through the heating coil only when the microswitch Si is closed which condition exists when the converter element is in place. A further characteristic is that whenever the converter is inserted the heating coils are automatically included in the electrical circuit and without the movement of the operator-actuated switch to position the movable contact 85 on the stationary contact A. The switch 84 also includes a third or Oif contact C. When movable contact 86 seats thereon the motor and the heating coils are disconnected. The switch may be set in one of three positions, and as follows: Position in which both heating coils and motor are energized in on-the-floor operation which result obtains when contact 86 is in contact with contact A. This position would characterize the operation in on-the-fioor cleaning without agitator or when the machine is functioning as a straight air machine. Position 2 is that illustrated in Figure 6 and is the position of the switch when the machine is operating either as an on-the-floor cleaner with agitator or as an ofi-the-floor cleaner with the converter attached. With the switch lever Bl positioned as shown in Figure 6 the attachment of the converter element 26 closes the mioroswitch 9i and automatically energizes the heating coil 66 which efiects the declutching of the agitator as described. Position 3 has the switch lever moved so as to position contact 86 on the dead contact C, the entire machine being de-energized.

The operation of the cleaner may briefly be summarized as follows: In normal operation the machine functions upon the surface covering with the cleaner motor rotating to drive the suctioncreating fan and to move cleaning air through the cleaner nozzle. The agitator also rotates to effect the beating and brushing of the surface covering to dislodge foreign material therefrom. This is the normal cleaning relationship but at Ill times it is desirable to use the machine as a straight air on-the-floor cleaner at which time the operator will move the switch lever 81 from its position shown in Figure 6 and in order to position the movable contact 86 in contact with stationary contact A. Current will then flow not only to the motor but also to the heating coils 66 positioned within the agitator body. Within a very short time the heat generated by the coils 66, which heat reaches the Spencer disc element 6| through the spaces between the arms 58 of the spider element 54, will be effective to cause disc element 6| to flex from its full line position shown in Figure 3 to its position shown in Figure 4. This result will take place substantially simultaneously upon each side of the pulley element 33 and will effect the declutching of each agitator body section 32 from the pulley element 33 which continues to rotate. So long as heat continues to flow through the heating coils 66 the Spencer disc element 5| will remain in the position illustrated in Figure 4 and the agitator body will remain standing and will not rotate. As explained, the heating element will remain energized and is energized whenever the operating switch 83 has its operating lever 81 so positioned that contact 86 is in engagement with stationary contact A or whenever the converter element 26 is inserted so as to close the microswitch 9 I When the operator again wishes to resume onthe-fioor cleaning with the agitator in operation he merely moves the switch to move the contact 86 into contact with contact B. The coils 66 cool rapidly, tire agitator being positioned in the stream of air moving through the cleaner, and upon disc 6| cooling it flexes back to its original position, moves the clutch elements 5i into contact with the stationary clutch surfaces 46 of the'pulley 33 and the agitator begins to rotate.

In the use of the machine in off-the-floor cleaning the insertion of the dusting tool converter element 25 automatically closes the microswitch 9| and the heating element 66 remains energized so long as the motor M is supplied with current.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner agitator, a shaft, a rotatable pulley unit on said shaft, a rotatable agitator body on said shaft including a surfaceagitating element, a clutch comprisin cooperative clutch elements on said unit and on said body, a heat-responsive element carried by said body and positioned to exert an actuating force to operate said clutch, and a heatin unit to apply heat to said heat-responsive element.

2. In a suction cleaner agitator, a supporting shaft, a rotatable pulley unit on said shaft, a rotatable agitator body on said shaft including sections upon opposite sides of said pulley unit, a pair of clutches to connect said sections to said pulley unit, each clutch comprising engageable elements on said unit and on a body section, a heat-responsive element for each of said clutches carried by its respective body section and connected to an engageable element and adapted to move it out of engagement, and a heating unit for each heat-responsive element positioned as to apply heat thereto to effect the openin of the clutch related thereto.

3. In a suction cleaner agitator, a stationary supporting shaft, a pulley unit rotatable on said shaft, a rotatable agitator body on said shaft including a surface-agitating element, a clutch comprising cooperating separable elements on said unit and on said body, a heat-responsive ele- 7 ment carried by said body and positioned to exert an actuating force to separate said clutch elements, and an electrical heating unit to apply heat to said heat-responsive element carried by said shaft.

4. In a suction cleaner agitator, a stationary supporting shaft, a pulley unit rotatable on said shaft substantially centrally thereof and having a conical clutch face on opposite sides thereof, an agitator body rotatably mounted on said shaft and comprising sections positioned upon opposite sides of said pulley unit, each section carrying a surface-agitating element, a clutch element having a conical face movably carried by each body section for engagement with a conical face of said pulley unit to establish a driving connection between said unit and the connected section, a heat-responsive disc element carried by each body section and connected to the clutch element carried thereby and adapted to move said clutch element into engagement with and out of engagement with its cooperating clutch face on said pulley unit, and an electrical heating element carried by said shaft adjacent each heat-responsive element to actuate that element to move the clutch element attached thereto.

5. In a suction cleaner agitator, a shaft, a pulley unit fixed longitudinally of said shaft and mounted for rotation thereon and includin a clutch element, a cylindrical body extending longitudinall from said pulley unit, means supporting said body for rotation on said shaft and securing it against longitudinal displacement relative thereto, a clutch element slidably carried by said body for engagement with the clutch element carried by said pulley unit, a heat-respom sive element carried by said body connected to the clutch element mounted thereon and adapted to move that element into and from engagement with the clutch element of said pulley unit, an electrical heating unit carried by said shaft to heat said heat-responsive unit, and electrical conductors extended from said heating unit along said shaft and from said cylindrical body.

6. In a suction cleaner agitator, a supporting shaft, a rotatable pulley unit on said shaft fixed longitudinally thereof, an independently rotatable body rotatable on said shaft adjacent said pulley unit and fixed longitudinally relative to said shaft, cooperating clutch elements on said unit and on said body to connect said unit and body for conjoint rotation, at least one of said clutch eleme ts being movable longitudinally of said shaft to engage and to disengage the other clutch element, and electrically operated means comprising a heat responsive element and an electrical heating unit carried by said body and shaft to actuate said movable clutch element.

'7. In a suction cleaner, a main casing including a nozzle, suction-creating means in said casing connected to said nozzle to draw cleaning air therethrough, an electrical motor to drive said suction-creating means, a rotary agitator in said nozzle including an agitator body and an independently rotatable pulley unit, clutch elements on said pulley unit and on said agitator body to connect said body to said pulley for rotation therewith, a heat-responsive element carried by said agitator body and connected to one of said clutch elements to move same, an electrical heating unit within said agitator body positioned to heat said heat-responsive element to move said clutch ,element connected thereto, and a manually operable switch adapted to energize said motor and said heating unit.

8. The construction recited in the preceding claim characterized in that said main casing is provided with a converter seat adapted to seat a dusting tool converter for oif-the-floor cleaning and in that a second converter-actuated switch is provided to energize said heating unit during the energization of the motor.

9. A suction cleaner including a nozzle, a rotary agitator in said nozzle including a rotatable body and an independently rotatable pulley, clutch means to connect and to disconnect said body to said pulley, heat-operated means to operate said clutch means, a heating unit contiguous to the heat operated means and located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream through the nozzle, andsuction-creating means to draw cleaning air through said nozzle to remove heat generated by said heating unit.

10. In a suction cleaner, a casing, suctioncreating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, power transmission means connecting said agitator to said motor, said power transmission means including a clutch located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and comprising a heat-responsive element and a heating unit adapted to be energized and deenergized to actuate said heat responsive element, whereby the agitator is disconnected from the clutch when heat is applied to the heat responsive element by the energization of the aforesaid heating unit and connected to said clutch when the heating unit is deenergized.

11. The combination in a suction cleaner comprising a casing, suction-creating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, and driving means for driving said agitator from said motor, including a rotatable pulley unit, of an agitator declutching means, said agitator declutching means comprising cooperative clutch elements on said agitator and said rotatable pulley unit, a heat-responsive element carried by said agitator and adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said declutching means, and a heating unit adapted to be energized and deenergized to actuate said heat responsive element, whereby the agitator and rotatable pulley unit are adapted to be engaged and disengaged upon a change of temperature caused by the energization and deenergization of the aforesaid heating unit.

12. In a suction cleaner, a casing, suction creating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, power transmission means connecting said agitator to said motor, said power transmission means including a clutch comprising a heatresponsive element located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and a heating unit adapted to be energized and deenergized to actuate said heat responsive element, whereby the agitator and the power transmission means are adapted to be engaged and disengaged upon a change of temperature caused by the energization and deenergization of the aforesaid heating unit.

13. In a suction cleaner, a casing, suctioncreating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, driving means connecting said agitator to said motor, said driving means including a clutch I comprising means responsive to a change in temperature located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and adapted to exert an actuating force to operate the aforesaid clutch and a heating means adapted to operate within a predetermined range of temperature sufiicient to actuate the aforesaid means responsive to a change in temperature, whereby the agitator and the driving means are adapted to be engaged and disengaged Within the predetermined range of temperature of the heating means.

14. The combination in a suction cleaner comprising a casing, suction creating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor and driving means for driving said agitator from said motor, of an agitator declutching means, said agitator declutching means comprising cooperative clutch elements on said agitator and driving means, a heat responsive element located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said declutching means, a heating unit adapted to be energized and deenergized to actuate the'heat responsive element, an electrical circuit connected to the aforesaid motor and heating unit whereby the motor and heating unit may be energized and deenergized, a manually operable switch controlling the circuit, whereby with the motor and heating unit being energized, the motor actuates the suction creating means and the agitator is disengaged upon the energized heating unit applying heat to the heat responsive element, the suction cleaner operating as a straight air machine without the agitator running.

15. The combination in a suction cleaner comprising a casing, suction-creating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means. an agitator therefor and driving means for driving said agitator from said motor, of an agitator declutching means, said agitator declutching means comprising cooperative clutch elements on said agitator and driving means, a heat responsive element adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said declutching means, a heating unit located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and adapted to be energized and deenergized to actuate the heat responsive element, an electrical circuit connected to the aforesaid motor and heating unit whereby the motor and heating unit may be energized and deenergized, a manually operable switch controlling the circuit, whereby with the motor energized and the heating unit deenergized, the motor actuates the suction-creating means and the agitator is engaged upon deenergization 0f the heating unit actuating the heat responsive element, the suction cleaner operating as an onthe-floor cleaner with the agitator running.

16. The combination in a suction cleaner comprising a casing, suction-creating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, driving means for driving said agitator from said motor, and a converter seat adapted to seat a dusting tool converter for ofl-the-fioor cleaning on said casing, of an agitator declutching means, said agitator declutching means comprising cooperative clutch elements on said agitator and driving means, a heat responsive element carried by said agitator adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said declutching means, a heating unit contiguous to the heat responsive element and located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and adapted to be energized and deenergized toactuate the heat responsive element, an electrical circuit connected to the aforesaid motor and heating unit whereby the motor and heating unit may be energized and deenergized, a manually operable switch controlling the circuit of the motor and the heating unit and a converteractuated switch in the circuit of the heating unit and the motor adapted to energize the heating unit upon seating of the dusting tool converter and to deenergize the heating unit upon removal thereof, whereby with the dusting tool converter seated, the motor and heating unit energized, the suction cleaner operates as an offthe-fioor cleaner without the agitator running, and with the dusting tool converter removed, the suction cleaner operates as an on-the-floor cleaner with the agitator running.

17. The combination in a suction cleaner comprising a casing, suction-creating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, driving means for driving said agitator from said motor and a converter seat adapted to seat a dusting tool converter for oiT-the-floor cleaning on said casing, of an agitator declutching means, said agitator declutching means comprising cooperative clutch elements on said agitator and driving means, a heat responsive element located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction cleaning means and adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said declutching means, a heating unit contiguous to the heat responsive element and adapted to be energized and deenergized to actuate the heat responsive element, an electrical circuit connected to the aforesaid motor and heating unit whereby the motor and heating unit may be energized and deenergized, a manually operable switch controlling the circuit of the motor and the heating unit and a converter actuated switch in the circuit of the heating unit and the motor adapted to energize the heating unit upon seating of the dusting tool converter and to deenergize the heating unit upon removal thereof, whereby the suction cleaner upon preselected positions of the manually operable switch is adapted to operate as a straight air cleaner without agitation, an on-the-floor cleaner with agitation, and upon actuation of the converter actuated switch in one position, as an ofi-the-fioor cleaner, and on removal of the converter as an on-the-fioor cleaner with agitation.

18. A suction cleaner adapted to operate as an on-the-fioor cleaner without agitator, an onthe-fioor cleaner with agitator, and an off-thefioor cleaner with converter attached comprising a casing, suction creating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, driving means for driving said agitator from said motor and a converter seat adapted to seat a dusting tool converter for ofithe-fioor cleaning on said casing, an agitator declutching means comprising cooperative clutch elements on said agitator and driving means, a heat responsive element carried by the agitator and adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said declutching means, a heating unit adapted to be energized and deenergized whereby the heat responsive element is adapted to actuate the declutching means, an electrical circuit connected to the aforesaid motor and heating unit whereby the motor and heating unit may be energized and deenergized, manually oper- 11 able switch controlling the circuit of the motor and the heating unit and a converter actuated switch in the circuit of the heating unit and the motor adapted to energize the heating unit upon seating of the dusting tool converter and to deenergize the heating unit upon removal thereof, whereby the suction cleaner upon preselected positions of the manually operable switch and converter actuated switch is adapted to operate in any one of the aforesaid cleaner arrangements.

19. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a suctioncreating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, driving means between said motor and agitator, a clutch between said agitator and motor adapted to connect and disconnect selectively said agitator to and from said motor, a heat responsive element located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said clutch, heating means contiguous to the heat responsive element and adapted to be energized and deenergized whereby the heat responsive element is adapted to actuate the clutch, an electrical circuit adapted to energize said motor and heating means, and manually opreable means adapted to control said circuit whereby the agitator and motor are connected and disconnected as the heating means is energized and deenergized.

20. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a suctioncreating means in said casing, a driving motor connected to said means, an agitator therefor, driving means between said motor and agitator, a clutch between said agitator and motor adapted to connect and disconnect selectively said agitator to and from said motor, a heat responsive element located in a position to be cooled by a cleaning air stream initiated by the suction creating means and adapted to exert an actuating force to operate said clutch, heating means contiguous to the heat responsive element adapted to be energized and deenergized whereby the heat responsive element is adapted to actuate the clutch, an electrical circuit adapted to energize said motor and heating means, and manually operable means adapted to control said circuit whereby the agitator and motor are automatically connected and disconnected as the heat responsive element actuates the aforesaid clutch upon a change of temperature caused by the energization and deenergization of the aforesaid heating means controlled by the manually operable means.

WILLIAM D. SELLERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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